Allan Holdsworth with The Pat Smythe Trio - British Rail (Live video 1974)

TV Festival gig for European Radio - this is the BBC segment. Allan Holdsworth - guitar; Pat Smythe - fender rhodes; Daryl Runswick - bass; John Marshall - drums

[@timothydillow3160]

I saw Allan the night his father passed away, I believe it was 1985 , he quietly came out and announced this to the audience, of about a hundred people, it was Chad and the IOU band at the golden bear in Huntington Beach California. I think many in the audience we're surprised he was going to go on with the show, but what those in that tiny nightclub experienced for the next couple hours was something wonderful surreal and ethereal. Seeming to take his emotions out through his instrument you were Awash in harmonious energy that was more than just sound. The greatest performance I've ever seen by a musician. I was a 17 year old guitar player, and was gobsmacked. His work on the first UK album, Jean-Luc Ponty , and the Tony Williams recordings, are legendary. An influence on every guitar player from Eddie Van Halen to Frank Zappa, Allan Holdsworth single-handedly rewrote the language of jazz guitar.

[@avantprog6902]

I've been to The Golden Bear. That night it was John McLaughlin. Steve Morse opened for him and Allan Holdsworth was seated across the table from me. Saw Allan countless times, most often at The Baked Potato.

[@Gregorypeckory]

Great tribute; he was definitely the GOAT; a once in a century musician; pure genius! I will always treasure every second of every show I got to see live; the best concert experiences imaginable. Too good for this world.

[@alexanderallegra432]

Not jazz guitar but the idea of music. Created new languages not recognizable by any other linguist. He was beamed here from outer space for sure

[@pablotorres7436]

On point Bro!!❤

[@thewildcellist]

Wow - thanks for this account. Very moving. Allan's contributions cannot be overstated. Example: no Allan, no EVH as we knew him. No EVH... It's interesting that sometimes it's the underrated/obscure musicans who're the innovators that change everything, while more famous, but less innovative ones proliferative their ideas.

[@xxczerxx]

It's not just practice, this guy's brain must have seriously been genius-level. Once in a lifetime player.

[@EgoShredder]

Exactly. Most world class guitarists rely on patterns and 'finger muscle memory', whereas Allan could improvise at this speed! 😳

[@Allan-et5ig]

Like or not, his music, you are right. All the practice in the world doesn't allow for this.

[@alexanderallegra432]

I love when people say it’s random playing. It’s random cause you don’t have the ear yet to understand it

[@MetalheadNation]

@@alexanderallegra432Well put! When I came across Allan the first time (probably 4 or 5 years ago, I was probably 16 or 17), I didn’t get it. I was super impressed by the technical ability, but that’s all I got. When I came back to him about a year and a half to two years ago, I couldn’t believe I’d dismissed him initially. He’s now my favorite guitarist of all time. Something just clicked, and I wish I’d been able to see him live before he died

[@alexanderallegra432]

@@MetalheadNation me too bro, I want to see Tim miller live, he’s probably as close as it gets

[@zinwah]

Allan is absolutely one of the greats, but credit is also due to the unsung Pat Smythe who died far too young. An exRAF pilot , he was a family friend , who had a fantastic ear for new talent. As well as Alan H, he gave Dave Holland one of his first jobs. He was the first person who told me to check out John Mclaughlin and a little later, Michael Brecker as new talents, when they were virtually unknown. Bill Evans, who he played opposite at Ronnie Scotts also thought highly of him as a pianist. So let's remember Pat Smythe, a very fine musician and a lovely guy.

[@ntesslafan]

You are absolutely correct!

[@timmungenast]

David, big thanks for this important background history!

[@bobkalkman2502]

Never heard of this or him until now. Nice. Of course, AH is what brought me here...

[@jibsmokestack1]

david c - Wasn't Pat Smythe the pianist in Joe Harriots quintet in the late 50 early 60s that was so influential and important on the development of European Free Jazz?

[@USAGlobalVideoCorp]

New talent? Ever heard Tempest? Igginbottom? Soft Machine?

[@trudywretched]

Allan Holdsworth's "54 Duncan Terrace" was written in tribute to Pat Smythe after his death. (That was Smythe's London address; they would play there together.) This is from a 1990 interview with "Guitar Player" : "My late friend Pat Smythe was a very inspirational character, a wonderful piano player, and a very musical, mellow guy. He played the nicest chords, and his technique was very delicate. He had this old Bluthner piano and got a great sound. His original tunes were always so pretty. I got the first four chords of this and said, "Man, that sounds like Pat.""

[@fungiformenow]

I remember meeting the young Holdsworth on the way to buy his first guitar from the music shop in Bradford. I gava him a lift on my Vespa and I got him there without incident.

[@jnorthrop70]

Thanks for that!

[@WarhawkBeyond2040]

As far as guitar playing is concerned, Allan Holdsworth was light years ahead of the game and his technique was so advanced beyond words, he truly was a once in a lifetime guitarist.

[@Istari_01]

Amazing to realise that whilst all of our favourite guitarists of the past 50 years were performing Alan too was around and playing! And playing on another level. Most us us never even knew who he was! Alan Holdsworths’ are not created from hard work and practice, they are born (and also practice). Cheers to all the AH junkies out there. 🍻🍻

[@nxs0152]

It doesn't matter what guitar is in his hands. He's amazing.

[@TrueFreddyK]

Love this ol' footage, also the Soft Machine 1974 video- So far ahead was AH!

[@davidscott1052]

This is serious shredding ...before it was called that ....and before Gambale,Satriani,Malmsteen,Vai,Mancuso,Lane,Van Halen....and all of them have had the good grace to cite Allan as their major influence ❤❤❤❤

[@peterzernzach1563]

Al di Meola

[@Hologhoul]

Even John McLaughlin loves Allan's playing! Rare for Malmsteen to admit an influence, the other guy whom he clearly took ideas from is Uli Roth, the track Catch My Train, for example.

[@michaelciancetta6397]

did you really mention mancuso dude? this was 50 YEARS AGO ahahahaahahah

[@Hologhoul]

@@michaelciancetta6397 why shouldn't he, if Mancuso cites Allan as an influence?

[@michaelciancetta6397]

@@Hologhoul because he is ''only'' 50 years late// mancuso is adding nothing to guitar music

[@michaeljudson8942]

Daryl Runswick’s performance is at a whole other level. I have not heard anybody else play like that.

[@algreaves4515]

Jesus Christ... I consider myself to be an above average guitarist. My Mom will attest to this as well... But I cannot even begin... I can SEE and HEAR what Allan's doing; but I would not know how or where to begin with this... Every few seconds I hear one of the notes he plays fall directly and perfectly down into the chordal structure that's being played at that very second and it's just so fckng baffling and perplexing to me. It's truly beautiful. My jaw just drops.

[@Joeh1154]

As a long time fan of Holdsworth, I find it amazing to see these older performances considering what he ultimately became. I discovered him with "Road games" then "Metal Fatigue" and beyond. I saw him perform twice at NYC's "Bottom Line" venue in the early 1980's and he just killed it. The Coltrane of the guitar? I would agree. RIP Allan Holdsworth. There will never be another you.

[@Scott_works]

I agree with "The Coltrane of Guitar". Absolutely. Listen to his work with Gong on Expresso II. His stuff with Tony Williams Lifetime and IOU was also amazing back then. By then he had developed his rich tone and incredible lines.

[@pjuliano9000]

There is hope… I have witnessed a young guy whose name I can’t remember… Somewhere in his mid-20s who is emulating the fluidity of Holdsworth and that kind of expressiveNess that is so elusive

[@Fontsman]

@@pjuliano9000 Matteo Mancuso?

[@Gregorypeckory]

@@pjuliano9000 There are definitely some amazing, brilliant talents out there, and some that do a remarkable job covering Allan, but none are on his level.

[@croiners4166]

I saw iou at the bottom line also❤

[@cosmicjazzman4817]

Back again. Damn Allan Holdsworth ripping it up! Amazing ,beautiful soaring through the galaxy on the Gibson SG. Love hearing Holdsworth comping behind the Keyboard, strumming chords. It's rare to hear him comp like that. Usually he finger picks gently. Awesome bass solo and drum solo. Pat Smyth Fender Rhodes sounds fantastic.

[@MBSLC]

Quite an interesting approach to the drums by John Marshall-superb!

[@richardhouse9813]

Along with John McLaughlin, both guitarists of the Gods - in a class way beyond any others.

[@warvandal3443]

RIP AH Allan and J Mclaughlin were also born around the same time and came from the same area of Yorkshire. What are the odds on that? Lets have a beer for Allan. I'm still in shock on hearing he passed away.😦

[@richardhouse9813]

Me too, Nige - just heard this numbing news today too. Just reproducing here my review of "Bundles" from Amazon. RIP, great man - we won't see your like again - one of the very greatest musicians of any age >> 5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great bands with a guitarist from the Gods By Richard House on 1 Jan. 2012 Format: Audio CD An historical retrospect. When I was at university in the mid 1970s (1974 or 1975, I believe), I went down to London to see the Softs with a group of mates who had always been Softs fans going back into the late 60s. We got seats near the front - and as other reviewers have said here, none of us had heard of Allan Holdsworth before then. When Allan took his first solo (dressed all in white - echoes of another guitar legend, Mahavishnu John McLaughlin), he wondered to the front of the stage and proceeded to solo for maybe 12-15 minutes (this was probably Hazard Profile), and we were all utterly stunned in disbelief at the virtuosity of what we were hearing. I looked around me, and complete strangers were falling out of their seats in droves. None of us had ever heard guitar playing like this - it seemed superhuman - technically impossible, and awesomely beautiful. Today, when I put on 'Bundles', my skin creeps just as it did that first time I ever saw Holdsworth. If you've never heard the extraordinary Allan Holdsworth before, this is certanly a good place to start. It's just such a shame that Allan's joining of the band led to such dis-ease and ill-feeling. I suppose it's some kind of salutory lesson about how the electric guitar can dominate a band, with the other world-class musicians being cast in its shade. Having been a huge Mike Ratledge fan (e.g. try the magnificent album 'Soft Machine 3'), I just wish Mike and Allan could have found a way to play together over a period of time, both egos intact (like McLaughlin and Jan Hammer famously managed for at least a few years in the Mahavishnu Orchestra). But if you're a jazz or jazz-rock fan who values virtuosity, you just can't go to your grave without hearing this. 8 Comments 23 people found this helpful.

[@warvandal3443]

+Richard House Exactly when I first heard Allan too, and I was never the same again. The Bundles tour stopped at the Free Trade Hall, Manchester. I remember the place was only half full. My elder cousin took me along (I was a 15yr old budding guitarist) I was intrigued by Roy Babbingtons 5 string Bass, but sorry Roy, when I saw the swaying figure playing the white SG - my god. I can only describe it as perhaps how it must have been to hear Bird on 52st for the first time.

[@richardhouse9813]

I read yesterday that the Great Man had to resort to crowd-funding to be able to release his latest (now last) album - what a bonkers world we live in. Thankfully, there is a 12-box set about to be released - "The Man Who Changed Guitar Forever" - just a shame that t's over £140! Richard

[@warvandal3443]

+Richard House Yes, I heard about the funding- crazy times indeed. Great news on the box set!

[@NIGHTFRIGHT2011]

This just proves how far ahead Allan Holdsworth has always been,and what an absolute travesty it is that 42 years later,he has been reduced to crowd funding to support his latest release. There is no justice!!!!!!!!!!!

[@std882]

Jazz and Fusion just can't seem to hold audience anymore in this day and age. The audience are getting smaller. The kids today are so into dance music, hip hop and rap. Sadly, these are the pop music of today. Why, in the 70s AM and FM radio's playlist includes Led zep. Hendrix, Sabbath, etc. though that's no Jazz or Fusion, it's at least guitar major music that get kids learning to play the guitar. You are right, very sad indeed that he was reduced to crowd funding support. And this is the man that took the guitar world by storm.

[@cemegonuts]

I blame MTV. The visualization of the music is more important than the music itself. Music is just a vehicle for image anymore. Thats why today, musicians are incredibly appealing to the eye and are complete crap to the ear. The stuff Allan did was appealing to the ear if you are smart enough to allow his style to infect you. Holdsworth to me is a lot like Frank Zappa, in that there is very little music that is similar in style. Once you listen to Holdsworth (or Zappa) its hard to listen to something else for a while that is engaging. It's like a complex music hole, that you get pleasantly pulled into. Then everything else just pales by comparison and simplicity.

[@snowfiresunwind]

Great comment and agree absolutely.

[@brandex2011]

Damn! That is one sad story!

[@AlexOjideagu2]

Well he's dead now..........

[@TheBoffomundoShow]

The great John Marshall!

[@alexstrekal6944]

Always nice to get to see these early live clips of Allan's playing.

[@jibsmokestack1]

You can really hear the Coltrane influence in Allan's playing!

[@morbidmanmusic]

Says everyone.

[@fusionfan6883]

Mere words feel inadequate to express my sadness at the passing of Allan. His music was transcendental and the soundtrack to my life. As if from another world he took us on a mysterious wonderful journey that we could not fully comprehend but somehow still touched our souls and forever changed our perception of what beauty is and can be. A musician rather than a mere guitarist, complete in his mastery and resolute in the pursuit of his vision, we will never know his like again but rejoice in the lagacy of wonder and joy Allan has left us. Thankyou Allan for enriching my life with your genius. Deepest condolences to Allan's family and it is my honour in some small way to contribute to what I am sure will be a fitting tribute to this most humble of geniuses.

[@andrewgillis8572]

the confidence with which Holdsworth enters those Tony William's L:ifetime tracks - the ones the critics hated EG Million Dollar Legs - plus he has the legato-emphasizing reverb, the high-lonesome sound, that you hear in Beck, JMcL, Santana (Borboletta IMO his actual greatest studio guitar) and also the underrated Ray Gomez

[@fusionfan6883]

andrew gillis Yes indeed, and agree Borboletta is so underrated, as is Lotus. And I too have always loved Ray Gomez and am so saddened drugs curtailed his career and musical output. Can I suggest you check out Corado Rustici if you are not familiar with him.

[@fallsjd]

Wow! Thanks for sharing! Holdsworth is untouchable.

[@Bawookles]

It's amazing how much of his insane technique is already present in 1974. Just hasn't arrived at his liquid tone yet.

[@Esrom_music]

Totally agree, and depending on my mood sometimes I prefer this harsher more gutteral tone.

[@teeple1877]

I like it more kinda. At least sometimes. I like the more structured jazz stuff he’s playing over

[@mikeanaro]

@@Jon-wm3wp Is that something new to you?

[@mikeanaro]

@@Jon-wm3wp There is for millions of players, you know you wont change that because you don like the term.

[@mikeanaro]

@@Jon-wm3wp Sure, a high overdriven amp (not distortion) with so much saturation that legato sounds so smooth that we all say its liquid, like Holdsworth, Lane or Eric Johnson.

[@philsackett7341]

An SG and a coil cord into a Fender. The world's quickest Rig Rundown. Sounds pretty damn good to me. Thanks for posting this!

[@ToneCanyon]

Jeez. Its amazing. Like, yes, he evolved as a musician, but holy hell, its crazy that the first van halen record was still a few years away, and holdsworth is pulling this out!

[@fabiocollina]

Vintage superb Holdsworth, thanks for sharing

[@michaelb.42112]

Thank you ! This is the coolest thing I've ever seen. Allan playing a white SG with a stand up bass player, they are total 70's ing it. Allan's comping is so good, and I love the Fender Rhodes, of course who doesn't, and the sheet music all over the place is SO COOL.

[@LisaBellaDonnaMusic]

I come back to this on most Sundays 🌻☕️ Wish there were a full record of this.

[@fusionfan6883]

Lisa Bella Donna Love your synth work Lisa and wonderful too that you love the late great maestro Allan. Peace 😊

[@LisaBellaDonnaMusic]

fusion fan Thank you! 😊❤️ To me, Allan was the ultimate of highest altitudes in music. I miss him here.

[@fusionfan6883]

Yes me too Lisa, he was the soundtrack to my life ever since I first bought Igginbottom's Wrench when it first came out in 1969. His music spoke to me at a profoundly deep level, not because of his technical virtuosity or amazing harmonic language, but because it touched something within me that I can't fully articulate, which forever lifts and inspires me. I am still in mourning you might say, but console myself with the indelible legacy he left us all in his wonderous music. Peace.

[@CamFilms1000]

@@fusionfan6883 wow that's incredible that you were there to experience the immaculate Igginbottom's Wrench at it's release. As a 23 year old who has just recently discovered that album I find myself having the same feeling as you in response to Allan's music, especially from the Igginbottom days. "Can't fully articulate" is the only way I've been able to put it as well. Something totally otherworldly about the music

[@snowfiresunwind]

@@fusionfan6883 Agree entirely

[@Drinckx2]

Utter brilliance! So interesting to see him early in his career playing so clean through a Fender amp, before the Tony Williams' Lifetime work when he started to push up the gain. You can see how precise he was and hear how influenced he was by horn players rather than other guitarists.

[@algreaves4515]

That bass solo is just absolutely beyond the stratosphere. Funky as hell but following the chords of the song... My mind is blown.

[@whisk941]

Just love hearing raw talent. No dancers, playback, anything other than inspiring playing. Each of them hold their ground.

[@nosebone2861]

I love 70s Holdsy!

[@warvandal3443]

Me too. And now he has gone😢

[@tedcabana]

Greatest guitarist, EVER! Second to none... no equal!!!!

[@morbidmanmusic]

Don't be silly. It's on facit of guitar playing and yeah, he owns legato playing.. but your fanboy comment is just ignorance of all music. ... and a tired cliche.

[@tedcabana]

@@morbidmanmusic Really? A tiered cliché? As if everyone says that all the time. But if they do, than it must be true. A.H. was a phenom, and the likes of you will never mire his legacy. You talk like a jealous hack with pipe dreams of false grandeur.

[@tonykumar9727]

Malmsteen is a big fan of him so yeah he is in the argument as one of the greats or greatest

[@Andrew-q8k]

My favourite guitarist but I believe Paco de Lucia and Joe Pass definitely and possibly Beck Reinhardt Montgomery McLaughlin Metheny Segovia Julian Bream Roy Clark and Shawn Lane are same level as Holdsworth

[@jameswood1628]

Breathtaking. Holdsworth in this era was unstoppable.

[@mhsigrist]

My brain just got melted, OMG, this is incredible hahaha

[@RamonBello]

Good stuff! RIP Allan Holdsworth. The greatest...

[@darthmorbous]

of all times

[@caryheuchert]

Don’t forget about the great legato work of Ollie Halsall who played with Patto and later replaced Allan in Tempest.

[@cosmicjazzman4817]

Genius! Beautiful playing by all especially Holdsworth. My favorite guitarist and most influential player of the 20th century. RIP Allan.... and Mr. Edward Van Halen.... Eddie's favorite guitarist.

[@anonymoususer3496]

This is incredible footage for 1974. Awesome.

[@user-uo8yh9tb8g]

Notice Allan picking far more than one might imagine... love this early clip and line-up, so thanks for sharing. I got to see him with IOU three times, and he's absolutely the best I've ever heard or seen and was about 40 years ahead of his time too... just unreal what he accomplished

[@heavenhelp1982]

A man-machine on the lead guitar...Mr Allan Holdsworth!

[@michaelsolomon6594]

The keyboardist is amazing!!

[@williamgross7918]

Huge fan since day one,, all your comments are just incredibly generous to this great great man had the opportunity to talk with him back in the 90s and go to several of his gigs😊

[@rembeadgc]

Not a bad note! Even back then his timing was impeccable! Bless his young heart!

[@DARKSIDEOFURANUS]

such a funky, groovy band one of the best Holdsworth pereformances

[@marcblum5348]

Super interesting video. AH in a transformative phase. Some stock fusion guitar things then these wild sheets of notes. Much less saturated tone than some years later. I rate this a high value document wrt AH's development. Many thanks for sharing!

[@dayuhanspace]

that solo phrasing of Allan sounds the same as his work with soft machine!

[@robtullius7540]

Wow this is really rare...like Soft Machine kimd of thing...John Marshall...Its really cool hearing Holdsworths early style.. awesome

[@hubertvancalenbergh9022]

The sound of Soft Machine a year or so later. John Marshall's already there too.

[@Seventysongs]

Great..thank you! Allan, the best in all areas!

[@timmungenast]

It's easy to forget how good the other musicians are here. Everybody is doing a super job, but yes, AH is devastating here. Dig how musically he comps for the other soloists, though! THAT is one of the things that separates the champs from the chumps. Thanks for sharing this video, Bob the Juke!

[@Bifrons]

DAMN!!! He was born awesome!!! He will keep amazing far beyond his time. See ya around the cosmos, Allan.

[@damovanb]

even the bass player 'shreds' wow!

[@iainblack2975]

This is one of my favorite videos ever! It’s like God channels through these musicians, unreal.

[@jay_white_music]

what an interesting insight into Allan's playing. some of his lines remind me of Joe Henderson's playing.

[@musopaul5407]

Early Holdsworth; wonderful, especially when you know what he became! Great band, too, especially rhe fierce John Marshall!

[@tabasko420]

Rip m. Holdsworth :'( Awesome Muscian, Incredible influence on my favorite guitar heroes

[@eldarsafarov9302]

R.I.P Allan( best guitar player ever!

[@frankolsson6130]

R.I.P. Allan you´re the best ever!

[@ManOrWomanIDK]

I love his crunchy sg tone. Cool to hear him sounding different than he did later on

[@johnkondrk1382]

Awesome..RIP Allan and Pat

[@blahdeblah1975]

One of my fave Holdsworth clips/stories.

[@keithmore4784]

RIP Allan .... what a sad loss to music. Incredible. Pat and the band are awesome too.

[@ntesslafan]

Thank you so very much for the post Bob the Juke! This one is a treasure!

[@visionalert]

Priceless treasure. Great find mate!

[@guitarnationtv]

One the greatest ever British Guitarists

[@gtrDan1963]

Holdsworth had a habit of rerecording pieces in different ensembles and changing the titles ; "Shadows Of" (Gong) got rerecorded as "Velvet Darkness" ; "Fred" got remade as "Kinder" as well as "Letsby" being renamed "Mr. Spock" (both from Tony Williams' Lifetime album "Believe It", 1975)) ; now, to my ears, the chord changes of this tune are identical to Soft Machine's "Land Of The Bag Snake" ("Bundles" album, 1975) which was a Holdsworth composition and featured this same drummer, John Marshall. The performance itself is stunning and it's a shame this is not commercially available... Thank you so much for this wonderful post !!! All the BEST...Dan.

[@craigfazekas3923]

For reasons like this ? KZbin is flat-out awesome !! 🚬😎👍

[@sanjivharikumar]

At 12:12 whoever thought of filming and sharing this closeup of this beautiful run was a genius. Really it goes for all instruments besides guitar. These guys knew how to film instruments during their solo breaks...unlike a lot of examples where it's completely random.

[@javiceres]

Thank God chorus wasn’t yet a mandatory effect when this was recorded.

[@TheFreemanuk]

If it was it would still be better than anything you will ever produce.

[@javiceres]

@@TheFreemanukRude

[@kevfreeman5482]

Been searching for a clip of Alan on a TV programme that had a section - solo of the month! It was a British tv programme, but I cant remember what it was called - it wasnt the Old Grey Whistle Test! Must have been between 75, 76 or maybe 77. I think it was a studio appearance - he definitely had that white SG. It was the first time I'd seen, or heard of him! I remember the day after the programme had been on, met my mate and we both looked at each other and were like - did you see that guy with the SG last night? Happy days but so,so sad - still had so much to offer. He still maturing like....like a single malt!!

[@propylaen2001]

WOW!!! What a great find. Many thanks for posting this!!

[@beintelegant]

Allan Holdsworth - gone way too soon - brother, we'll look after the spaceship till we see you again...

[@PaulRoseGuitar]

John Montgomery Rouse amen

[@AlexOjideagu2]

Holy shit I didn't even know he had died

[@PierreGarrabrant]

RIP Legato God- Thank You for blowing my mind and opening my heart to fearless music ! Reunited with John in Heaven

[@gilbertglidewell5471]

Rest In Peace Allan Holdsworth you will Be Greatly Missed :(

[@thomasjdigennosr7370]

The Coltrane of guitar!Pure genius

[@paulkelly9896]

This is superb! Thanks so much for posting it. It also brings back memories. The Jazz Centre Society ran a weekly Wednesday night session at the Phoenix pub in Cavendish Square, London. I was a regular and recall seeing the Pat Smythe Quintet two or three times there always with Allan Holdsworth who was just sensational and playing very much as here - possibly on a Stratocaster or maybe this white SG. I can’t remember who else was in Pat’s band then. I don’t think it was the rhythm section here - Daryl Runswick and John Marshall. It may have been Chris Laurence on bass and I think the fifth member was Ray Warleigh on alto sax (also RIP). There are also four very good quality BBC recordings (sound only) on You Tube of Pat’s Quintet with Allan Holdsworth recorded in 1980. But you’ve probably already found those.

[@legatrix]

What were the reactions to Holdsworth like at the time? I mean, did he silence the audience or things like that? Was there an 'aura'? Or was he just another good performer?

[@wildbillhackett]

Looks like he's using a Bandmaster Reverb here. I didn't know he ever used one. Thanks for posting Bob. I hope someone finds some video of him with Tony Williams and also Tempest.

[@guitarigmusik197]

Allan was from another higher league of unparalleled music giants from outer space!!!

[@juliantaylor7368]

my favorite clip of Alan - RIP

[@davejarvu364]

another great clip from a great time....the internet keeps on giving...love all these musos....Allan of course...also for me i think John Marshall is one of those guys too who really pushed his playing all the way...thanks for posting this :)

[@TinoGTC]

😱😱😱 my god!!! Thanks to upload this video..it's amazing watching the master playing with that band in the mid's seventees

[@Fontsman]

It's fascinating to see how Allan's techniques have evolved. For a player who says he doesn't use his picking hand much, this earlier stuff is revelatory.

[@I-am-permabanned-from-replying]

Imagine this being your backing band 💣

[@bassheadjazz2708]

...all played on a gibson SG with almost no gain. For a guy that defines legato phrasing, he sure does have incredible alternate picking chops.

[@gmailaccountk406]

Hes not really picking here either Which is crazy

[@frankie.d1127]

GmailAccount K So what in Gods name is he doing?!?! Sweeping mixed with all hammers?!?

[@gmailaccountk406]

I don't think Allan ever sweep picked. He always used legato in his playing.....

[@johnbazy]

Almost no gain? Please.

[@francovaldes8272]

Well, he did struggle with the fact that guitar has little to no sustain without prominent levels of gain, given that in jazz, there was no room aesthetically for high gain tones

[@RexLancaster]

Thank you for posting this gem.

[@fedem.8475]

R.I.P. dear Allan...

[@pdpatdeschamps29]

AMAZING ALLAN, always, at anytime !!!!

[@Hologhoul]

Imagine being an aspiring guitar player and seeing that way back in 1974!! I wonder what his setup was to ensure enough gain for to articulate the notes so well whilst still sounding somewhat clean?

[@danivallcws]

It's shocking and unexpected to see someone playing like this on 1974. Aesthetically, this video feels weird as fuck because of how advanced Holdsworth was!

[@Yourbankaccount]

Hello, John McLaughlin?

[@pleximanic]

@@Yourbankaccount Not even close!

[@kermheat]

Super !! Thanks for Sharing !!

[@LeleMelo]

R.I.P. Allan.

[@richardfaucheraux4873]

Nothing to add about Allan Holdsworth after the 306 previous comments but if I just discover the two other wonderful musicians my pleasure is also watching the one and only John Marshall.

[@dilltdog1158]

Gawd bless you Al, a gifted Yorkshire lad just like Johnny Mac.

[@thevelointhevale1132]

Holdsworth 'Hazard Profile' with Soft Machine is my fave period of work using the white SG.

[@jacksnyder5853]

noticing Allan's right hand technique in this vid...minimal motion and so many single notes. right hand working only a bit harder to pull the notes from the cosmos at ghastly speeds. glad he found his liquid sound later and gifted us with his chordal and compositional prowess

[@seukfuhi]

By the late 1980s, when he reached the peak of his playing (my personal opinion), he probably picked not more than 40% of the notes heard in his solos, and it stayed that way until his death. However, back in the 1970s as seen in this vid, looks like he picked more notes, I'd say maybe half, or a little more than half. But he still does a lot of hammer-ons and pull-offs, and you can clearly see the man already looking for a horn-like type of playing, playing lines rather than licks and trying to transcent the physical limitations of the instrument.

[@dimitryos5254]

@@seukfuhi I think the quality of the amplifiers at that time did not allow to achieve a good sustain, so Alan had to pick more than he actually wanted.

[@flame-sky7148]

I got this form Sergio about a few weeks ago. Thanks for posting it before me.

[@FusionHowie]

Fucking crazy !!!!! Thank you for this video! Peace from Detroit MI.

[@simongrady1298]

Beautiful . Half a trem

[@hanksteelbranch]

The production is extremely good for the early 70's.. If you have more video from this show, PLEASE POST IT.